{"product_id":"universal-geneve-uni-compax-big-eye-as01613","title":"Universal Genève Uni-Compax \"Big Eye\"","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is fire sweeping through the inner circles of the collector community that can be summed up in two words: Universal \u003cspan\u003eGenève\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUntil a few years ago, this high-end Swiss brand was little-known outside of their Polerouter models (designed by a young Gerald Genta), but recently, intense interest among collectors and enthusiasts has pulled the largely defunct manufacture into the limelight - a light that has long been overdue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUniversal \u003cspan\u003eGenève\u003c\/span\u003e was once responsible for some of the most beautiful dress watches and chronographs from the mid-20th century. From the purpose-driven to the ornate, UG had a touch all its own and breathed incredible beauty and craftsmanship into every piece they produced. While there has been some contemporary stirring from the brand (they released a manually-wound limited edition Compax at Basel World in 2009), it is Universal \u003cspan\u003eGenève's sumptuous vintage stylings that have the Big Apple all abuzz.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduced in the 1930s, the Universal Genève Compax came in many dial configurations over its lifespan, with two, three, or even four registers. The \"\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve-sold\/products\/universal-geneve-compax-nina-rindt-applied-logo\" target=\"_blank\" title='Universal Geneve Compax \"Nina Rindt\"'\u003eNina Rindt\u003c\/a\u003e\" Compax, with its distinctive black and white or \"panda\" dial coloring, is perhaps the most famous and desirable of these chronographs--especially the later versions with \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve-sold\/products\/universal-geneve-compax-ref-885103-01-evil-nina\" target=\"_blank\" title='Universal Geneve Compax \"Evil Nina\"'\u003ereverse panda\u003c\/a\u003e or even \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve-sold\/products\/universal-geneve-compax-blue-exotic\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Universal Geneve Exotic Blue Dial\"\u003eexotic\u003c\/a\u003e dial coloring. The panda \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve-sold\/products\/universal-geneve-tri-compax-881101-01-box-and-papers\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Universal Geneve Tri-Compax Eric Clapton\"\u003eTri-Compax\u003c\/a\u003e, with its association with guitarist Eric Clapton, has attained an almost mythical reputation among vintage chronograph collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut the humble Uni-Compax, with its twin chronograph registers at three and nine o'clock--the register at 3 being the minutes counter for the chronograph--remains a perennial favorite. The \"Big Eye\"came in two distinct expressions.  The \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/universal-geneve\/products\/universal-geneve-uni-compax-big-eye\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eReference 884100\/01\u003c\/a\u003e was fitted with a black dial with white sub-registers, while the Reference 884100\/02--featured here-- sported the classic 'panda' configuration. Introduced in 1963 and only manufactured for two years, fewer than twenty \"Big Eyes\" have surfaced in the commercial market in recent years. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its 36.5mm stainless steel case, Valjoux 23-based Universal Genève movement, and dial in the always-attractive \"panda\" configuration, the \"Big Eye\" has the makings of a classic mid-century chronograph. Its most distinctive feature is of course the oversized minutes counter at 3 o'clock, the genesis of the nickname \"Big Eye.\" The subtle accents of red in the registers and an internal tachymeter bezel--reminiscent of the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/shop.analogshift.com\/collections\/watches\/products\/heuer-carrera-reissue\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Heuer Carrera Reissue\"\u003eHeuer Carrera\u003c\/a\u003e--make the \"Big Eye\" as handsome as it is rare. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Universal Geneve","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":22088012481,"sku":null,"price":40000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Universal_Geneve_Big_Eye_White_Dial_884100-02_AS01613_1.jpg?v=1468943572","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/universal-geneve-uni-compax-big-eye-as01613","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}